Storm-curtain for vehicle-tops.



4 0 9 1 fiw 2 R P A D E APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1902.

fimaw NO MODEL F g.1.

WITNESSES: 'a/u 'd/ C,

7"! NORRIS PHERS (L0, WDTD-LITHD WASHINGTON D4? UNITED STATES Patented April 26,1904

STORlVi-CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,185, dated April 26, 1904.

7 Application filed September ll, 1902. Serial N0. 122,976. (No model.)

'ments in Storm-Curtains for Vehicle-Tops;

and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to and its object is to provide a storm-curtain for the tops of automobiles, carriages,wagons, and the like,which curtain may be readily attached to and detached from the top and sides of the front of the veh icle-top,which may be folded into compact form, so that it may be stowed away beneath the seat or elsewhere, and which may be conveniently swung upon its supports into the top of the carriage and there secured when Figure 1 is-a front elevation of my curtainv with the side flaps extended into the same plane with the curtain; Fig. 2, a sectional'side elevation of my device secured in place ready for use; Fig. 3, a perspective view in detail of. means hereinafter referred to for securing the upper margin of my curtain to the top of the front bow of the vehicle-top; Fig. 4:, the same in disengaged position; Fig. 5, a perspective view in detail of the means hereinafter described for securing the sections of my curtain in extended position.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

My storm-curtain consists of two rectangular sections 1 1, side flaps 2 2, and a depending flap 3. Thennited width of the two sections 1 corresponds substantially with the width of the open front of the carriage-top. In each of these sections is a window l,through which the occupants may look ahead of the vehicle. The depending flap 3, while it is shown in the drawings as short, may be extended to any desired length toform an apron. Each of the sections 1 l and the side flaps 2 2 has secured to its margin and is held in stretched position by meansof. a stout wire frame, there being'a separate frame for each section and for each flap. The curtain and its flaps are composed of a suitable fabriceither in one piece or in separate pieces, as may be desired, and the wire frames above referred to are secured to the inner side of this fabric by stitching the frames into the hem of the fabric at its margins and by covering the parts composing the frame elsewhere than at the margins of the fabric with strips of cloth, the edges of which are stitched to the curtain or to the flap. Various ways of securing the frame to the fabric will suggest themselves; but the method here suggested by way of illustration will be found convenient.

The fabric composing the curtain forms along the lines where the several frames meet wires of one of the section-frames are twisted around the Wire of the frame of the adjoining section, as at 5, and is extended horizontally, as at 6, forming a spring-arm terminating in a hook 7, which may be swung into engagement with the top wire of the frameof the'adjoining section. When the extensions or arms 6 are thus engaged with the frame of the adjoining section, the two sectionsare firmly held extended and in the same plane. When the two hooks 7 are disengaged, the two sections and two side flaps may be folded side by side and in contact.

. To the bottom side of the upper part of the front bow of the vehicle-top are secured at opposite sides hooks 8, adapted to engage the top wires of the frames of the sections 1 1.

9 9 are loops of wire the extremities of which are formed into eyes which encircle the top wires of the frames of sections 1 1. *hen the hooks Sare in engagement with the wire frames, the loops 9 may be turned to engage the hook, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the curtains cannot become disengaged-from their supporting-hooks. VVhen the loop 9 is turned downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the curtain may be readily slipped away from the hooks 8. To the flap 3 is secured a snap-hook 10, adapted to engage an eye 11, secured to the under side of the top on one of the intermediate cross-bows. The curtain may be swung upwardly, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, on the pivots formed by the hooks 8 and the framework of the curtain-sections, so that the snap-hooks may be engaged with the eye 11.

The side flaps of the curtain at or near their lower outer angles are provided with springclamps 12, which may be conveniently and quickly slipped over the side pieces of the front bow, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The operation of my device is as follows:

When the curtain is to be used, the two sections 1 1 are opened into the same plane, and the hooks 7 of one frame is engaged with the adjoining frame. The two frames of the two sections are now held rigidly open. The top wires of the two frames of the sections 1 1 are slipped over the hooks 8, and the guard 9 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the curtain cannot slip off from the hooks. The side flaps are slipped inside of the top next to the front bow, and the spring-clamps 12 are slipped into engagement with the side pieces of the front bow.

In case of an emergency the curtain may be pushed forward at the bottom, when the spring-clamps will readily slip ofi from the carriage-bow With but little resistance. In case the curtain is to be thrown out of use temporarily the side flaps may be folded inwardly against the inner side of the curtain and the bottom of the curtain may be swung backwardly and upwardly, so that the hook 10 may be engaged with the eye 11. The

curtain is now held supported in horizontal position just under the upperpart of the vehicle-top until it is again required for use.

I do not limit my invention to the specific devices herein shown for pivotally engaging the sections or flaps of the curtain together, or to the means of securing the sections of the curtain in open position, or to the means for detachably securing the curtain and the flaps in place in operative position, for it is obvi ous that many equivalent devices will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Neither do I limit my invention to a curtain having two sections, as shown, for the number of these sections may be extended, as may be desire Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A storm-curtain for vehicle-tops comprising a piece of fabric of substantially the width of the open front of the vehicle-top, a plurality of rectangular frames secured to said piece of fabric, the fabric at the meeting edges of the frame serving as a hinge upon which the frames may be folded into parallel relation, means for detachably securing said frames in substantially the same plane, and means for detachably securing the curtain to a vehicle-top.

2. A storm-curtain for vehicles comprising in its construction a flexible fabric of substantially the width of the vehicle-top opening, side flaps secured thereto, rectangular frames secured to the curtain, the flexible material ole-top, and means for detachably securing the bottom of the curtain to the under side of the vehicle-top.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL O. LAWLESS.

Witnesses:

S. A. DORLAND, O. W. F. KIRKLEY. 

